Man admits role in 2 fraud schemes, faces lengthy sentence

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) -- Federal prosecutors say a northern New Jersey man has admitted his involvement in two fraud schemes.

George Wright recently pleaded guilty to mail fraud, aggravated identity theft and transfer of fraudulent documents. The 48-year-old Newark man faces more than 35 years in prison when he's sentenced Nov. 5.

Prosecutors say that from January 2010 through March 2011, Wright bought stolen identity information, which he used to create fictitious employees of three different companies.

After contacting a payroll firm and falsely claiming to represent the three companies, Wright created several fraudulent business payroll accounts. Payroll checks totaling more than $148,000 were issued in the names of the fictitious employees and sent to addresses Wright controlled.

The other scheme involved fraudulent birth certificates that Wright obtained and sold for cash on at least three occasions in 2013.
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